Improved portable gas-generator



W. SNODGRASS.

. Portable Gas Generator.

11e. 100,080. Pe1e111e11 Feb. 22. 1870.

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J. MARCELLUS BROWN E, '0F ySAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 100,080, dated February 2 2, 1870.

INIPROVED PORTABLE GAS-GENERATOR.

Mns- The Schedule referred to in these Letters 'Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SNonGRAss, of Macomb, in the county of McDonough, and'State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved Portable Gas- Generator; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact desciiption thereof, which will' enable others skilled in the art to make'and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved method of generating illuminating gas, and consists in carbureting atmospheric air, whiclris forced in contact with a hydrocarbon liquid by a new and improved rotary' pump, and in the general construction, arrangement,- and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus, through the line xx of fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a vertcalcross-seotion of iig. 1, through the line y y.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.'

A represents the carbureting vessel, which contains a revolving reel, the wings of which are' perforated and covered with flannel or other good'absorbing material on both sides.

The wings have each a lip, which at every revolut-ion dip into and raise a portion ofthe gasoline or other hydrocarbon liquid contained in the vessel A, which liquid runs down on the flannel covering.

B represents the reel.

C represents the surface of the hydrocarbon liquid.

The lips on the perforated wings are seen at e.

D represents the pump for forcing air into the carbureting vessel A.

This pump consists of a revolving cylinder', (in one or more sections,) provided with buckets, and is revolved in water. It is about two-thirds or threefonrths submerged, as seen at they water line at F.

.Motion is given vthis rotating pump, and also'the rotating reel B in the carbureter A, by means of the system'of gear-wheels marked G, H, and I at the end of the machine, as seen in the drawing, whichA gearing may be actuated by a Weight or by a spring, as may be found most advisable.

As the pump revolves, each 'bucket receives a portion of air as it rises from the water. When it strikes the water again, its mouth or opening is down,aud the air itcontains is forced to the inside cylinder J.

The water follows the air into the air-chamberfK, and has an outlet at the center of its head, and returns to the outside as the pump revolves, while the air passes from thev air-chamber tothe carbureter through' the pipe L. It will be seen that the end of 1this pipe is above the water line in the air-chamber.

The end of the pump-shaft has a bearing supported by this pipe, as seen in the drawing.

There is a valve around this pipe, as seen atm,

which is regulated by the pressure of air in the carbureter, but kept in position by the rods rt and o,

'connected with a spring, as seen'in fig. l in dotted,

lines.

The pump revolves in a semicircular cistern or vessel, P, beneath the carbureting vessel A, and from the base of the machine, the whole being supported on legs q, as seen in the drawing.

For'the purpose of raising the temperature of the air and the hydrocarbon liquid, and rendering the latter more volatile in cold weather, 'I provide a furnace, It, which is connected with the space between the pump and the bottom of the carbureter.

It will be seen that the furnace is open at the bottom, and that thel air which supplies the pump passes in through the furnace.

Sis a perforated diaphragm. The air, in passing through this diaphragm, and in contact with the sides' ofthe furnace, will become heated more or less. This furnace is heated by means of va jet of gas from the carbilreter, at S, which is conveyed through the exible tube T to the burner, where it is ignited.

The gas is distributed to the burners from the pipe V, and the hydrocarbon liquid is introduced through the pipe W.

X represents a glass tube on the end of the carbu-l reting vessel, for indicating the height of the hydro'- carbon liquid.

In this apparatus capillary attraction is not brought int-o action. The liquid is agitated by the slow motion of the revolvingreel, which keeps it o f uniform density throughout, and prevents any residuum in the carbureter. The very extensive surface presented to the air bythe wings of the reel allows theair to bef come thorodghly saturated with the vapor lof the liquid, and enriched with all the carbon necessary lto form a superior illuminating gas;

I am aware that vgas-generating machines having carbureting chambers, with reels or stationary de- .vices provided :with candle-wick, canton flannel, or. other capillary absorbent, have been usedfand I do not claim as my invention such means of evaporation, or any particular method ofoperating such devices.

In combination with the valve m, the carbureter orA vaporizingchamber A and reel B, constructed as shown and described, -force-pump D and furnace R, the whole combined tooperate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

' WILLIAM SNODGRASS.

Witnesses:

W. E. WITHUN, J. E. FLEMING. 

